Package for milk.



W. G. BROWN.

PACKAGE FOR MILK.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.17, 1910.

1013 539 I Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

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:WVENTUR m-w w. G. BROWN. PACKAGE FOR MILK.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.17, 1910.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

8 SHEBTS*SHBET 2.

AMHH I l l l l -H H H I I J I I wul l H Hl hfil h N H H Wu W. 0. BROWN.

PACKAGE FOR MILK. 0 APPLICATION FILED 020.17, 1010. 1,01 3,639, 0 Patented Jan. 2, 1 912.

. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. G. BROWN. PACKAGE FOR MILK. APPLICATION FILED DEO.17, 1910.

1,013,639. Patented Jan. 2, 191,2.

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lA/l/E/VTOR W. G. BROWN. PACKAGE FOR MILK. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 17, 1910.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

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W. G. BROWN.

PACKAGE FOR MILK. APPLICATION FILED mo. 17, 1910.

Patented J an. 2, 1912.

8 SHEETSSHEET 6 W. G. BROWN. PACKAGE FOR MILK. APPLICATION FILED DEG.17, 1910.

1,013,639a Patented Jan.2,1912.

8 SHEETSSHEBT 7 W. G. BROWN. PACKAGE FOR MILK. APPLICATION FILED DEO.17, 1910.

1 ,6 Patented Jan.2,1912.

8 SHEETS-SHEET B.

a twelve hours.

WILLIAM GRANT BROWN, 01? NEW YORK, N. Y.

' PACKAGE non MILK.

Specification of noracee.

Letters t n Patented Jan. 2, 1912,

Application filed December 17, 1910. Serial No, 597,871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM G. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in- Packages for Milk, of which the following is a specification. 1

My present invention. relates to packages for milk, and has special reference to pack ages which can be utilized not only for temporary storage, but for transportation.

It is well understood in handling milk to be of the utmost importance to keep it as nearly as possible at uniform low temperature, and also to protect it from contamination. No other article of food is so easily spoiled or so dangerous when spoiled, since in most cases it goes .to unobservant and often ignorant people who do not know the difference between good and bad; and also, because contamination is oftenunascertainable without analysis, so that no amount of care on the part of the consumer can prevent risk. Under present conditions the general trade in milk has passed altogether into the hands of a few concerns in each locality, which have sufficient capital to provide the necessary means for transportation and storage. The effect of this is to limit competition and to make it almost impossible for consumers to get milk from other concerns; and, as is well known, to put the farmers or other small dairymen more or less at the mercy oftlie larger concerns as to the price which they receive. The article being incapable of preservation for any time,-the current market price must be taken at once or the value is lost altogether.

As at present conducted the transportationof milk is carried on in cars which areartificially cooled. The transportation is done almost altogether at night, and as a consequence a considerable part of the milk is that which has already been keptfor Many forms of package have been. devised, all of which are so far as I know open to more. or less objection. The following requirements of a successful package must, however, be met: First: the milk should be absolutely protected against exposure, not only to contact with any other substance whatever, but the can in which it is carried must be so hermetically sealed that it will beprotected even against odors; since it is well known that these are easily absorbed by milk, and even if they are not injurious are unpleasant to the taste, and often render it unmerchantable. Second: the can must be so securely and completely fastened, and thus protectedagainst being tampered with in transit or at the retailers, that the milk cannot be adulterated or skimmed. Third: the can must be kept at a moderate temperature, as low as possible without freezing the milk. These are essential requirements, and there are other things of less importance which are desirable.

I have devised a package which permits the can to be locked (and sealed also if desired) sothat it cannot be opened except by those authorized to do so; and which is also of such a character as to maintain it at an even temperature. The can is also provided with an automatic faucet having a checkvalve therein, so arranged that while it is possible to discharge the milk through the faucet it is impossible on account of the prese cc of the valve to force water into the can t erethrough; and the can is provided with an agitator which, whenever any of the milk is removed therefrom, forcibly stirs up all the contents of the can so that the cream.

latter element of my invention is of the greatest importance in practice, since with all the arrangements which have heretofore been devised and which are within my knowledge, it has been possible to run 01f the milk andleave the cream or to run ofi the cream and leave the skimmed milk, which are equally objectionable. The first is accomplished by having a faucet which taps the lower part of the can, which is maintained stationary. As soon as the milk begins to show cream, the dealer ceases to sell it as milk, and sells it as cream at an increased price. It is obvious that the con verse would be the case were the faucet so located as-to draw off the cream first, the milk being drawn off subsequently by tapping the can'. Both of these plans are not uncommon, where not prevented by the authorities. In my improved package, however, it is impossible to remove any part of the contents of the can without tilting it and the milk are thoroughly mixed. This Mid from a vertical to a horizontal position, and the operation of my agitating device being dependent upon this shifting of the position of the can, is insured at all times.

The containing package or box for the can is built preferably with vertical compartments, one of which contains the ice in intimate contact with the can, and the other the can. The box or case is provided with bearings by which it may be mounted upon a stand, the arrangement being such that there is a little tendency to maintain the can-end vertical, this tendency being partly counterbalanced by the weight of the ice. The can rests upon a partition or grating within the box, by which means the water from the melting ice is free to flow back and i forth. With this arrangement, when the box is tilted upon its bearings (which is easily accomplished by reason of the counter-balancing referred to) the top of the can containing the faucet, as presently to be explained, becomes the side, and the ice-water collects in what is now the bottom of the box. As soon as the dealer lets go of the faucet, however, the can naturally overbalances the weight of the water and the device settles to its upright position, the ice-water flowing back around the can.

The accompanying drawings show an embodiment of my invention in one form. In them Figure 1 is a conventional perspective, partly broken away, of the ice-chest holding the can. Fig. 2 is a section upon the line 22 of Fig. 3 showing the same parts. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, and Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the partsshown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 6, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation, of the can. is a side elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, of a different form of agitator. end and side elevations of another form of agitator. Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14, show a modified construction of the can. Figs. 15 to 18 show a modified form of the agitator of my invention, applied to a milk can of ordinary construction. Fig. 19 shows in section the improved measuring faucet which I employ, and Fig. 20 shows the check-valve which is to be used with the faucet. Fig. 21 shows a valve adapted to the package shown in Figs. 22 and 23. Figs. 22 and 23 show a barrel-package embodying the invention.

In Fig. 1, A is the box, which contains the ice and the can. The ice is contained in the grated receptacle B, provided with a perforated top B having retaining bolts B working against a spring B, the object of this being to prevent the ice sliding about when the box-1s tilted, as presently to be described. A cover A is secured to the box by slides A and a hasp A, so arranged that it is flush with the top of the box so that one Fig. 7

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are respectively described presently.

In Figs. 3 and 4, the box A is shown rest-- ing upon a stand D, which may be constructed in any desired manner, and is preferably provided with trunnions D D upon which the bearings A of the box are placed. The look A secures the hasp A?', fastening the top of the box in place. Stops A A cooperate with the stand to prevent the box being tilted too far. In general the weight of the milk is so great that when the box is released it will fall back until the stop A comes in contact with the side of the stand; but on account of the weight of the ice counterbalancing a part of the weight of the milk the blow is not sufficiently heavy to be objectionable. The stop A acts to prevent the can from tilting too far forward.

Figs. 5 and 6 show the can which I may use, having the agitator in place therein. The agitator E is aflat piece of metal or any other material which will stand hot water,.

and which will not absorb or contaminate the milk. It is in effect a perforated partition in the can, and by preference I secure it to the cover C so that its position relative to the faucet C is always maintained. In this construction a rubber gasket C is interposed between the top part of the can and the top C The agitator E is provided with holes 0 e at the top and bottom, so that a circulation is initiated in the can every time it is tilted the milk surging backand forth, thus mixing the cream with the milk. It is to be understood that the faucet C is intended to be inserted in the can when it arrives at the retail store.

Fig. 6 shows the outside can and the peculiar hasp which I prefer to employ, which permits the secure sealing of the can. The hasp C is provided with an elongated opening C, so that if the can-cover should become somewhat deformed and it be necessaryto screw it up very hard, or to increase the thickness of the gasket, the. opening in the hasp will still register with the staple. The lock C" secures the hasp in place, and an express seal C may also be passed through the staple if desired.

In Fig. 7 I show lugs C C which are fas-- drawing the perforations, lettered in this toward the faucet.

imaea e case 6 e, are elongated into slots, which I find to operate very eflicaciously.

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 illustrate the same construction; in this case the agitator is shaped as part of a cylinder, the concavity being By this construction, when the milk does not reach the top of the can a large air-bubble forms under the agitator (when it is horizontal) in the curved portion, and running back forces its way through the holes 6 e at the bottom of the can, giving rise to a quite forcible agitation of its contents. v

I have illustrated the agitator as fitting closely to an inside diameter of the can; but it is obvious that this fit may be a loose one, as indicated in Fig. 7 and that its sides neednot necessarily be parallel with those of the can. In general I find thebest effect to be when the agitator 'is a reasonably close fit,- since that insures the circulation which I am to set up, but it maybe departed from, as already indicated, without ceasing to employ my invention.

The operation of the arrangement shown, while sufficiently obvious from the foregoing specification and the drawings, is as follows: When the box A is shipped, ice is placed in the ice-box or grating B, the cover A is slipped into place and the lock A se-. cured. Upon arrival at the retail store, the box is placed upon the trunnions D D of the frame-D, the look A. is removed by the dealer, and the faucet C inserted in the can.

' When it is desired to take out the milk the box is tilted into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, and when the desired quantity has been removed and the faucet turned off the box is allowed to tilt back to the normal or full line position of Fig. 3. When in the dotted line position, the Water and ice lie on the bottom of the box and when tilted back the ice-water rushes back around the can; this insures a circulation of the icewater and keeps the can chilled so that the heating of the milk is prevented. When the box is to be shipped to the farmer the dealer turns it up and empties out the ice-water, (the ice having melted by this time), restores the cover A to its place, and looks it into position, I A

In Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14, I show a modified form of can which is convenient for transportation. As is well known, the present cans have anoverhanging top, by means of which they are handled in transportation conveniently, being rolled like abarrel on the bottom edge. With the form of can which I prefer the top is not overlapping, and it is hard to get hold of so heavy an object. I therefore provide a handle II, to which is secured a central bolt it the lower end of which is formed into or has fixed thereto a circular ratchet k a similar ratchet h is secured to the top 0 ofthe can,

iii

the bolt passing through it with a loose fit. The handle, as shown in Fig. 11, is arranged with a hinge so that it may lie fiat in a depression H formed in the top G of the can. The ratchet is covered by a piece of sheet metal (1 secured to the top, so that the milk cannot work out through it; it being designed with all the forms'of can wh i h I have devised to seal the milk hernm" ill therein. The operation ofthese par follows: When it is desired to move the workman grasps the handle and d up so that the ratchet 7L engages ratchet h.,"the teeth of these two are slightly rounded off when he t'w can to roll it on the lower edge, it thus unnecessary to release the handle It, the teeth of the ratchets sliding over each other with facility, and the can rolling upon its bottom edge and upon the bolt h 'W hen it is desired to stop the can, however, the handle H is brought up sharply and. the teeth of the ratchets will then engage and bring it to a stop. \Vhen the can is stood on end and the handle released, it drops into place in the depression H These figures also show a modified form of joint, in place of the threaded connection between the top and the can which is illustrated in other figures; this is a bayonet joint composed of lugs I I fastended to the can, and corre sponding lugs I .I secured to the lid. iloacting surfaces of these lugs are beveled, a nd when the lid is twisted it is forced down by the wedge action of these surfaces into close engagement with the can.

In Figs. 15 to 18 I show a form of the agitator which I have devised which is well adapted for use in milk cans of common construction. In such cans itis of course impossible to introduce through the narrow neck an agitator of the full width of the can; and as the neck of the can is often less than half the diameter of the body, it is not expedient to make an agitator which folds only in the middle, as might seem to be the obvious remedy. To accomplish the ends of my invention. therefore I arrange the agitator in sections, the central one of which may be withdrawn with the top of the can to which it is secured, and when it is withdrawn the side sections may be collapsed and drawn out of the neck of the can.

portion to which are secured pieces E E, which form therewith grooves in which sections E E are disposed when the device is arranged in the can. In practice the taper of the central section need not be quite so great as is here. shown. When it is desired to insert the agitator the parts E E are placed in the can and adjusted against the lugs C; the portion E is then inserted, the edges of the sections E E -being disposed between the plates E, E whereuponthe section E is pressed down firmly into place, forcing out the sections E E into contact with the sides ofthe can; this in connection with the curved bottom of the can and the shaping of the diaphragm to 'fit it, retains the whole in place until the cover is removed and withdrawn. This is not of course so good an arrangement as that in which the agitator is composed ofega single sheet which can readily be removed and sterilized, but it is operative and useful In Fig. 19 I show in section the measuring faucet which I propose to use. In this J is a glass can having therein a piston J operated by a rod J having a handle J and passing through the top J. of the can, which is secured thereto by clamps J and has a packing J a gland J prevents leakage, and a spring j cooperates with grooves in the rod, so that the correct position for the different measurements indicated by the graduations upon the glass 'is readily determined. A hollow plug J is provided with a handle J and a spout J; an opening J through the plug communicates with the can, and with the milk-can into which the plug is screwed by the threaded nipple K while another opening J communicates when in the proper position-with the can J so that the hollow body of the plug forms a channel between the can and the spout J. The operation of these parts is as follows: When'the handle J is in the illustrated p0- sit-ion, the opening J permits the milk to flow from the large can into the can J fillv ing it to whatever capacity the position of the piston J permits; this may be adjusted by the handle J 4 to any of the graduations.

A vent J 7 in the top permits the air to enter liehind the piston,'while the opening in the bottom of the can J with which the channel I J in the plug cooperates, is made funnelentrance ports into the can J at the same time, there can be no flow of milk from the larger can to which the faucet is attached without previously turning the handle of the faucet, and thus measuring the discharge.

In Fig. 20 I show a check valve which may be conveniently employed, though other forms may be used, with the faucet just de- Fig. 21 shows the same general character of valve as that of Fig. 20; but this form is adapted for use with the barrel form 4 of package shown in Figs. 22 and 23,'presently to be described. In this figure, C is the top of the can, which in this form is provided with lugs c 0, spacing it away from the top of the package A: An opening a in the package-top is of such size as to permit considerable play, to allow for possible deformation of the tops, or other want of alinement, When the nipple K is inserted it drawsnp the top C by means of the screw-thread until the lugs engage with the top A, thus holding the can firmly in place.

Figs. 22 and 23 show a barrel-shaped package, the outer vessel L being usually of wood, while the can C may be of metal or glass; the common form of fruit-jar 010- sure, with yoke L and gasket a is used for the outer vessel; and a similar structure, the yoke ofwhich is marked M, for the inner can. An annular ring 0, preferably of metal, spaces the two vessels apart, and drops with the melting of the ice; but it does not yield readily to the thrust of the ice as the can is tilted, on account of cramping between the two vessels.

The milk may be shipped in the Way pointed out in absolute safety from adulteration or contamination. One of the greatest difficulties which have been met with in enforcing sanitary regulations has been to locate the responsibility for watering milk,

or for skimming cream from it. WVith the package which I havedex'ised, however, no

as easily kept in a sanitary condition as any 1 part of the can; being removable with the top, 1t 1s provided with means for-registering with the faucet, in all of the forms which I have indicated. There is no possibility of beating it. If the can be turned upon its side the contents will not flow from the faucet; in this case, even though the agitator is turned edg'ewise and its action is not so efiicacious, the circulation not being so violent, nevertheless it will operate, so that the percentage of gain is wholly insuflicient to justify the trouble, difiiculty, and risk of punishment, of the operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and wish to protect by Letters-Patent of the United States is:

1. A package for milk comprising a can, a surrounding receptacle having a space for ice, a support having bearings permitting the rotation of the receptacle, and an agitator in the can brought into action by such rotation.

2. A package for milk comprising a can, a surrounding receptacle, a support having bearings permitting the rotation of the receptacle in a vertical plane, the can being located at one side of the axis of rotation so that when it is in its normal position it is substantially vertical and when rotated it is substantially horizontal, and an agitator Within the can, brought into action by its rotation.

3. The combination of a can with an agitator therein, the agitator consisting of'a substantially vertical perforated diaphragm, and bearings permitting the rotation of the can into a substantially horizontal position, the diaphragm when the can is so rotated being in a substantially horizontal plane.

4. The combination of a can with an agitator therein, and a faucet in the end of the can, the plane of the agitator being upon a transverse diameter .of the can substantially at right angles to the one passing through the faucet; and means for rotating the can upon a horizontal axis in substantially the plane of the diaphragm.

5. The combinationof a can having a cover, a faucet adjacent to the edge of the cover, and an agitator secured to the cover on a diameter substantially at right angles to the one passing through the faucet.

6. The combination, in a can, of a cover secured thereto by rotation, an agitator ar ranged upon substantially a diameter of the cover and rotating therewith, and a faucet in the cover upon a diameter substantially at right angles to the plane of the agitator.

7. The combination of the can, a cover secured thereto by rotation, an agitator therein, means for causing the agitator to register with a diameter of the cover and a faucet in the cover upon the diameter at right angles to the plane of the agitator.

8. The combination of a can and a cover secured thereto by rotation, with an agita tor consisting of a perforated diaphragm registering with a diameter of the' cover, a faucet in the cover upon a diameter substantially at right angles to the plane of the agitator, and a hasp upon the cover having an elongated opening so that .the cover may be made tight without throwing the hasp out of registry with its staple; whereby the agitator is maintained in a plane at substanti ally a right angle with the diametral plane of the faucet, while the can maybe locked at several positions of the cover.

9. A package for milk comprising a can, a surrounding receptacle, a grating in the receptacle for the reception of ice, and a detaining cover upon the grating; with bearings upon the receptacle permitting its rotation in a vertical plane.

10. The combination of a can, a rece tacle therefor, a grating within the recep tacle for ice, detaining means for preventin movement'of the ice, bearings upon the re ceptacle permitting it to swing in a vertica. plane, a cover for the receptacle, and fasten ing means for the cover arranged flusl therewith, so that the top of the package is in substantially a single plane.

11. The combination, in a package for milk, of a can and a receptacle therefor, a grated holder for ice within the receptacle, a cover for the holder and spring-actuated bolts upon the cover, with a flush cover for the receptacle and bearings upon the sides thereof permitting its rotation in a vertical plane; whereby the ice-water flows around the can when the latter is in a vertical position, and flows around the ice when the receptacle is rotated.

12. The combination, in a package for milk, of a receptacle,'a can therein, a holder for ice communicating with the receptacle, and bearings upon the receptacle permitting its rotation in a vertical plane; whereby the ice-water flows around the can when the latter is in a vertical position and when the receptacle is rotated, it flows around the ice, thus being maintained at low temperature and keeping the milk cooled.

13. The combination, with a milk can, of a receptacle therefor, a holder for ice in the receptacle and a cover for the holder secured in place by spring-actuated bolts, the cover being perforated and the bolts so arranged as to permit it to descend to follow the melt ing of the ice, but preventing it from moving upward; and means for permitting the rotation of the receptacle in a vertical plane; whereby the ice is secured in place and prevented from shifting about, while the water flows around the can when the latter is vertical and around the ice when the receptacle is rotated.

14. The combination of the receptacle, having the can in one side thereof and ice in the other, bearings upon the receptacle permitting its rotation in a vertical plane,

a stand upon which it rotates, and stops upon the receptacle, preventing its rotation too far in either direction.

15. The combination of the receptacle, the can and the ice container therein, the stand and bearings permitting the rotation of the receptacle, the bearings so disposed that the can-end of the package overbalances the ice; and 'stops upon the receptacle for preventing its over-rotation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my name in the presence of two Witnesses. WILLIAM GRANT BROWN. Witnesses;

KATHARINE M. SHERER, T. J. JOHNSTON. 

